Greg Brigman, Ph.D. Linda Webb, Ph.D.

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1 Greg Brigman, Ph.D. Linda Webb, Ph.D.The Ready for Success Program was developed at Florida Atlantic University by Dr. Greg Brigman and Dr. Linda Webb. This classroom based program includes five lessons delivered one week apart and focuses on helping students in grades 2-3 develop key pre-requisite learning skills tied to school success.

2 Ready for Success OverviewProgram Overview & MaterialsResearch OverviewImplementation of LessonsLogistics & PlanningQuestions & Wrap-upThis RFS overview will give you an overview of the program and materials and research that supports the RFS program. Afterward if you would like to go through the curriculum you are welcome to do so.

3 RFS: Embedding key skills and strategies into the daily curriculum to make the “learning net” tighter.Fishing provides a metaphor for the RFS program.Picture a fishing boat. If you are using a big net with big gaps to catch your fish, then when you pull in the catch you miss a lot of fish. Now picture another net with much smaller gaps. When you pull in this net you get many more fish. The fish are the curriculum you teach all year. The way to make the gaps in your students’ learning nets smaller is to add these key skills and strategies presented in the five lessons of the RFS program.When your students use these new strategies and skills they are able to net more information easier and by the end of the year they not only know more but they know how to show what you know.

4 RFS Materials Manual Table of ContentsCD with Five Lessons plus Booster LessonLets look at the manual. The table of content provides our road map for today. The introduction section behind the table of contents gives a brief overview of RFS and links it with the Ready to Learn and Student Success Skills programs. A short review of key research supporting all three programs is also provided and finally some links between RFS and SEL (Social Emotional Learning). Notice that after the introduction the first five sections are the five lessons of the RFS program. Each lesson has a timed overview on the front page then PowerPoint note pages that provide sample scripts to use to introduce the main ideas. Section six contains a booster lesson. The booster lesson helps refresh the key skills and strategies as spring testing draws near. The last section provides some tips on getting the most from the RFS program.The CD in the front poach of the binder contains the five lessons plus the booster lesson.

5 Ready For Success RFS is part of a three piece K-12 modelReady to Learn PreK-1Ready for Success 2-3Student Success Skills 4-12RFS is part of a three component Pre-k-12 model called Student Success Skills. All three programs are aimed at helping your students develop key skills and strategies identified with those students who are successful in school. These skills and strategies are considered pre-requisites to learning the regular reading, math, science and social studies curriculum.The RFS program is the newest edition to this Pre-K-12 model. The RTL program for Pre-K-1 and the SSS program for grades 4 and up have substantial research behind them. The RFS program has been successfully field tested in grades Results from action research on the RFS program from 12 grade 2-3 classrooms mirrors the very positive results found in the seven randomized comparison group studies conducted with the RTL and SSS programs. Randomized comparison group studies on the RFS is being conducted currently on the RFS program.To give you some idea of what to expect we offer research findings from the two sister programs: RTL and SSS.All three programs build on the same positive research base.

6 Research Supporting RTL and RFS Program DevelopmentCartledge & Milburn (1978, 1996) reviewed literature correlating social skills with school achievementZemmelman, Daniels & Hyde (1993) reviewed best practices for teaching and learningWang, et al. (1994) reviewed 50 years of research on “What helpsUS Department of Education (2003) Research on promoting literacyIndicators of Early School Success (2004) indicators most frequently associated with later school successThe RFS and RTL programs are based on extensive reviews of research on “the connection between social skills and achievement, best practices for learning and teaching, what helps students learn, research on promoting literacy and key indicators of early school success”.

7 Research Base for Student Success Skills: Five Key Reviews Of ResearchWang, et al. (1994)Reviewed 50 years of research on “What helps studentslearn”Hattie, et al. (1996)Reviewed 10 years of research on “The effects of learning skills interventions on student learning”Masten & Coatsworth (1998)Reviewed 25 years of research and identified “The most critical factors associated with academic and social competence”Marzano, et al. (2001).Reviewed 10 years of research on “Classroom instruction andsummarized research-based strategies for increasing student achievement “Zins, et al. (2004).Reviewed 10 years of research on “The relationship of social and emotional learning to academic success”The skills and strategies highlighted in the Student Success Skills program are very complimentary to the Ready For Success and Ready To Learn programs and were selected based upon the recurring dominant themes that emerged from the following five extensive reviews of research. The key skills and strategies featured in these same research reviews are reflected in the RFS program.

8 Skills associated with school achievementAttending – paying attention, being on task, and following directionsListening and reading comprehension – understanding the main idea, knowing when and how to ask questions and story structureSocial skills – learning to be encouraging to self, to increase persistence, and work cooperatively with othersThe RFS and RTL programs share a focus on these three skill sets.

9 RTL Research First Grade (1994) Head Start (1999) Kindergarten (2003)800 childrenages 4-7urban, suburban, rural settingsSignificant & consistent positive findings in three targeted areas: listening, attending and social skillsThere have been three significant studies conducted on the RTL program.

10 Methodology and AnalysisRandom assignment of classes to treatment and comparison groupsStandardized measures of achievementand behaviorManualized intervention to insure treatmentfidelityMultiple settingsAnalysis of Covariance used todetermine statistical significanceReplicated with consistent resultsin all three studiesThe RTL research used very rigorous research design and analysis standards.

11 RTL Headstart research recognized as the “research article of the year” by the Journal of Educational ResearchOne indicator of the quality of the RTL research was a research award from a leading educational research journal.

12 InstrumentsStanford Early School Achievement Test: Listening Comprehension Subtest (SESAT2)Comprehensive Teacher’s Rating Scale (ACTeRS)Trained observersSignificant differences were found on three separate measures for students who were taught the skills and strategies in the RTL program. Many of the RTL skills are included in the RFS program.

13 Student Success SkillsThe SSS program focuses on 3 key skill sets:Cognitive skillsSocial skillsSelf-management skillsThe good news: These skills are teachableThe SSS program includes the Ready To Learn skills of attending, listening/reading comprehension and social/cooperation skills within the categories of cognitive, social and self-management skills.Ready for Success incorporates many of the skills from both the RTL and SSS programs.

14 RFS & SSS share 5 categories of skills and strategiesGoal setting and progress monitoringCreating a caring supportive and encouraging classroom environmentCognitive and memory skillsPerforming under pressureHealthy optimismThe three skill sets upon which the SSS program are based: Cognitive, social and self-management have been operationalized into these five categories. The RFS program share these five categories. The five RFS lessons introduce students to skills and strategies under these five headings.

16 Evaluating Strong Evidence of EffectivenessAppropriate measures with high reliability and validityRandom assignment of treatment and comparison studentsStatistical analysis of outcome variables with significanceManualized intervention to insure implementation fidelityReplication of intervention in similar populations with consistent resultsConsistent results across diverse public school settingsLasting impactThe SSS research followed rigorous guidelines just a s the RTL research did.And just as one of the RTL studies received an award for quality research, one of the SSS studies also received and award for outstanding group work research from the Journal for Specialists in Group Work.

17 Attention to Diverse PopulationsUrbanSuburbanRuralWhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanThe four studies included students that represent all of these categories. The ethnic makeup of students in the studies approximate the ethnic makeup of students across the country.

18 Consistent Findings:FCAT math scores improved for approximately 86% of SSS students. Average increase was 30 points.FCAT reading scores improved for approximately 78% of SSS students. Average increase was 25 points.Follow-up study shows SSS students continue to make similar gains two years after participating in the program.On average approximately 9 out of every ten students who were presented with the SSS strategies showed improvement in math on the FCAT. The average gain was 30 points compared to the district and state averages of less than 5 points.Approximately 8 out of every ten students receiving the SSS program improved in reading an average of 25 points while the district and state averaged less than 5 points.One year later a follow-up study found the gains had not only been maintained but continued to grow at about the same rate as the first year in both areas.These differences where significant in relation to the comparison students. Both treatment and comparison students were randomly selected from students who scored below the 50th percentile in math or reading.

19 This slide shows how consistent the results were across the 50 school counselors and 36 schools. Notice how similar the % of students who improved are as well as how similar the average points gained are. It is this type of consistency that provides extra confidence in the overall findings of these four studies.

20 FCAT Developmental Scale Scores Comparison of Students Participating in Student Success Skills Program with Duval Average Improvement and State Average Improvement from 2005 to 2006In addition to results from the four formal studies additional action research findings have been reported that mirror the results of the four randomized studies. This slide shows results from an action research report from a school counselor in Duval County, Florida. Students who are taught these strategies score better in math and reading than their counterparts who do not have them.Student Success Skills results for 92 fourth grade students and 61 fifth grade studentswho participated in at least 5 classroom guidance lessons and at least 5 small groupsessions in 11 schools.

21 LeAnne’s School Evaluation: G.W. Carver Elem--Duval County, FL4th grade Read FCAT Scores21 students measured95% of students improved (19/20)Average SSS improvement was 307 pointsDistrict average improvement was 1414th grade Math FCAT Scores20 students measured90% improved (18/20)Average SSS improvement was 286 pointsDistrict average improvement was 223This is another action research report from a separate Duval County school using the SSS program.

22 Achievement gains for students receiving the SSS intervention were also compared to gains by students who participated in an intensive tutoring program in their school. The percentage of students who benefited from tutoring was similar to the percentage of SSS students showing improvement with the SSS students averaging slightly higher point gains.The point is that the SSS strategies have similar power to impact achievement test scores as intensive tutoring.

23 SSS & Tutoring InterventionThe SSS students had gains comparable to an intensive tutoring program. The tutoring program: 44 hours led by certified teachers.The SSS program: 12 hours (5 weekly classroom lessons followed by 8 weekly small group lessons) by school counselors.The SSS strategies provide a similar positive impact on test scores as an intensive tutoring program at considerably less cost and time. The cost of the type of tutoring program used in this comparison was is approximately $1000 per student for 44 hours of tutoring and this cost is recurring each year. The cost of delivering the SSS program is a one time cost for manual and training of approximately $5 per student and this cost is not recurring.

24 SSS and Student BehaviorTeacher RatingsNationally normed rating scale targeting skill areas involved in the SSS program70% of students improvedAverage improvement of 20 percentile pointsTeachers reported improved behavior for students participating in the SSS intervention. As students begin to acquire the skills and confidence necessary for academic success their behavior also improves. This observation was mirrored by teachers using the Ready for Success program in field tests recently.

25 (Based on 45 teachers responding)SSS: Teacher FeedbackPercent of teachers rating the seven items below on their degree of helpfulness:Lesson addresses need 100%Students enjoyed 98%Students understood/applied 93%Develops learning/social skills 93%Involved all students 98%Age appropriate 98%Classroom management skills 100%(Based on 45 teachers responding)Teachers who have experienced/observed the facilitation of the SSS program have shown consistent support for the program. In one survey a group of 45 teachers were asked to rate teach of the above items on a one to five “Likert” type scale with 1 being low and 5 being high. The percentages represent teacher ratings of 4 or 5.

26 Research SummarySchool counselor led groups focused on Student Success Skills help students to improve academic achievement and behaviorFour studies with consistent findingsSignificant gains in reading, math, and behaviorRandomized controlled trialsMultiple settings/grade levelsHelping to close the achievement gap at all levelsThere is strong evidence to support the Student Success Skills program as an evidence based intervention improving the academic and social competence of students.You also saw earlier the same type of strong evidence for the Ready to Learn program.The Ready for Success program builds on the success of the SSS and RTL programs and brings the most powerful strategies to second and third graders.

27 Three Keys to Building Resilience and Reducing School FailureSkills: Cognitive, Social and Self-managementAttitudes: Healthy Optimism, Solution Focused and KaizenClimate: Caring, Support, EncouragementThe combination of research identified skills, attitudes and classroom climate is the heart of the all three of the Student Success Skills programs: RTL. RFS and SSS. The skills, attitudes and climate strategies embedded in these programs can significantly improve your students academic and social performance this year.

28 Key Skill Areas for RFS and SSSGoal setting and progressmonitoringCreating a caring, supportive and encouraging classroomCognitive/Memory skillsPerforming under pressure:Managing test anxietyBuilding Healthy OptimismThe Ready for Success and Student Success Skills programs are based on five key skill building areas. Embedded within each of these are specific skills and strategies students can learn to use to help them achieve academic and social success. The following slides highlight some of these key skills and strategies.

29 OptimismOne of the greatest predictors of student academic success is their level of healthy optimistic thinking.Seligman (1995)Being optimistic about what you can accomplish is important. Read quote.

30 Optimism Can Be LearnedWe can help students learn optimism by teaching them to:Use cognitive, social and self- management strategiesSet realistic goalsNotice even small improvementsOutcome: Students see that what they domakes a difference and become moreoptimistic and resilient.The Ready for Success program builds in opportunities for students to learn to be optimistic about their ability and to set realistic goals, monitor their progress, notice small improvements, try new strategies if they are not being successful and to share the strategies that are working with classmates.

31 What do they have in Common?“Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do.”Pat Summit John WoodenUT UCLAPat Summit and John Wooden are the all time winningest coaches in NCAA basketball.

32 Fundamentals and TeamworkYour playbook alone will not get you there.You must work on fundamentals and teamwork everyday.Both coaches would spend time at each practice on fundamentals and teamwork. They considered both to be essential to their teams success. In education the curriculum is the playbook. If we want our students to master the playbook we must insure they have fundamental and teamwork skills that have clearly been identified as necessary for school success. The Ready for Success program helps your students to develop or deepen these critically important skills.

33 Begin with the End in MindSometimes you have toGo SlowTo Go FastIt takes a little time to introduce these fundamentals and teamwork skills to your students. But if you want them to go fast in their learning this year, you need to slow down enough to make sure they have what they need to master the curriculum.

35 Classroom Component Five classroom lessons Beginning in the fallFollowed by monthly booster lessons in January – up to standardized testingThe RFS program involves five classroom lessons of approximately 30 minutes. We encourage you to use our booster session as spring testing gets closer. We also encourage you to begin the RFS program as soon as possible to set your students up for success from the beginning of this year.

36 Pair Shares & Information ProcessingAh ha’s – New ideas, awareness, insightTa da’s – Validation of beliefs or strategies with which you have already had successQuestions for clarificationPlease take a moment to reflect on what you have seen and heard and share with a partner some of the most important ideas, and any examples of things you have already been doing that you found supported. If you have any questions this is a good time to clarify them as well.